Folding cutting and paste table.



No. 893,813. PATENTED JULY 21, 1908.-

' v c. 1). SHERMAN & G. H. LINK.

FOLDING CUTTING AND PASTE TABLE,

APPLICATION FILED I13. 14. 1907.

2 sums-hum 1.

z Zy ZS I I I v 2 MIA/8555.

TTOR/Vly UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

CHARLES D. SHERMAN AND GEORGE H. LINK, OF POUGHKEEPSIE, NEW YORK.

FOLDING CUTTING AND PASTE TABLE.

Specification ofLetters Patent.

Application filed March 14, 1907.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, CnARLEs D. SHER- MAN and GEORGE H. LINK, citizens of the United States of America, residing at Poughkeepsie, in the county of Dutchess and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Folding Cutting and Paste Tables, of which the following is a specification.

Our invention relates to folding tables, and more directly to that class designed for paperhangers use as a pasting and cutting table for preparing wall paper and the like, and is designed to meet the requirements for a table of the usual size, which may be folded into a compact and convenient parcel that can be carried in the hand without requiring any more space than a hand-bag, and which is also entirely self contained, besides providing when folded a receptacle in which may be carried the workmans tools etc, and it is further provided with a detachable flexible cutting surface, which when the table is extended, is firmly secured in a rigid manner to said table by suitable devices provided-for that purpose, which hold it perfectly flat upon the tabletop, thus forming a erfectly flat, smooth surface entirely free 'rom seams, openings or tack heads; and presents an; ideal surface for the cutter to work upon, without in any way marring the material to be cut, and in addition helps to retain the table in a rigid manner. This is entirely obviated and overcome by our device of securing the cutting surface by its ends in a perfectly rigid manner and yet having it removable to facilitate the folding of the table when not in use.

For this purpose and others of like nature, our invention consists of the following; as hereinafter described and claimed, but we do not confine ourselves to the exact design as herewith illustrated, as slight changes in construction may be made without departing from the claims of said invention.

In the drawings :Figure 1, shows the table set up. Fig. 2, shows the table folded for transportation. Fig. 3, is a plan of the same. Fig. 4, is an end view of the same. Fig.5, shows the bottom of the table with the legs folded. Fig. 6, is a section on the line AB, Fig. 1. Fig. 7, illustrates the flexible cutting surface. Fig. 8, shows the winding and tightening device in detail.

Fig. 9, is a section of the winding drum. Fig. 10, shows the hinge in detail. Fig. 11, shows the shaft for the winding device.

The table-top consists of two parts 1, and 1, secured to the rectangular frames 2, and 2, which are joined by the abutting hinges 3, and also to which are secured the legs 4, by the pins or bolts 7, which are held rigid when open by thefolding braces 5, which are secured at their lower ends by the sockets and pins 6, placed near the lower ends of the legs 4, and at their upper ends are secured by like sockets to the underside of the table-top, and when folded saidbraces occupy a space between the folded legs and the underside of said table-top.

The surface of the table for a small portion of its width and parallel to its sides, is depressed or reduced in thickness, to correspond to the thickness of the removable cutting surface, thus making the top of said table when the cutting surface is in place, perfectly level, so that no mark will be made in the material by the edge of said cutting surface, and also the shoulder made by this depression tends to retain the cutting surface from any side motion. At one end and near the side of said table-top and slightly below its surface is secured the winding and retaining device for holding said cutting surface in position, and consists of a flanged drum or reel8, mounted upon the shaft 9, and rotating with it, in the bearing brackets 10, and- 11, which are secured to the frame 2, of said table. At one side of the drum 8, and between it and the bearing bracket 11, is mounted a ratchet wheel 12, of less diameter than said flanges of the drum, so that the teeth of the ratchet may be protected from the material being operated upon, by the projecting flange of said drum. There is also secured to the bearing bracket 11, the pawl 13, which engages the teeth of the ratchet 12, thus holding said ratchet and drum from rotating in but one direction, until released by raising said pawl 13, out of engagement with the ratchet. The end of the shaft 9, which extends beyond the bearing bracket 10, is adapted to be engaged and rotated by a removable hand-crank 14, for the purpose of revolving said drum 8. To the opposite end of the table, and to the under side of the frame 2, near its corner, is se cured the plate 15, which is formed with one or more projecting pins or studs 16, extend ing downward, and which when the table is folded enter corresponding holes 17, in the frame 2.

The flexible cutting surface 18, is provided near its ends with one or more holes 19, designed to slip over and thereby secure one end of said cutting surface to the pins 16, while the holes 19, in the other end of said cutting surface are engaged and retained by the pins or studs 20, mounted upon the drum 8, and by which it is held and wound upon said drum as the drum is rotated, until said surface 18, is drawn perfectly tight and rigid over the table-top, when the drum is held in the desired position by the pawl 13.

The abutting hinge 3, is formed of two members 21, and 22, which are strengthened by corner braces or webs 23, on their inner sides, and by the lugs 24, on their outer sides, all of which are adapted to be countersunk into the sides of the table frames 2, and 2 and further held by screws and bolts, thus being just as efficient after the wood of the frames has-contracted away from them as before, as the braces 23, always retain the abutting ends of the hinge at the same angle with relation to the main portions of said hinge.

The hub of the drum 8, is formed with a recess 27, in which are mounted the pins or studs 20, in such a manner that their points do not extend. beyond. the radius of said hub, so that when the end. of the cutting surface 18, is secured to said pins 20, and the drum revolved in a manner to wind said cutting surface 18, upon the drum, the first complete wrap or revolution of the surface 18, around the drum 8, will be a perfect circle, and in no Way touch or be indented or pressed outward by the said pins 20, and also the end of the cutting surface 18, is retained under the projecting lip of said recess 27.

1 The flanges of the drum 8, being on a lower level than the table-top, and of greater diameter than the ratchet wheel 12, they protect the material operated upon from being injured in any way while being cut or pasted, and for this same purpose, is further provided the guard-rod 25, which freely slides through holes provided in the end of the table frame 2, for its reception, allowing it to be pushed in, when not in use.

In case it is desired to extend the width of the table-top for the accommodation of wider material, the frames 2, and 2, of the table are provided with pivoted swinging brackets 26, which may be used to support a board for the purpose of Widening the surface of the table. Suitable means are also provided for holding the table in a closed position, such as the hook 29, and the handle 28, for transporting the-table.

The operation of the invention as a whole is as follows. The table is first unfolded, the legs 4, opened and secured by straightening the braces 5. The awl 13, is then raised clear of the teeth 0' the ratchet wheel 12, and the free end of the cutting surface 18, unrolled from the drum 8, and extended over the table-top and secured to the pins 16. The pawl 13, is then allowed to drop into engagement with the ratchet teeth, and the drum 8, is then revolved by means of the shaft 9, and crank 14, until the cutting surface 18, is drawn tight and rigid, in which position it is held by the action of the ratchet and pawl. When it is desired to close the table for transportation the above operation is reversed.

Having thus described our invention, what we claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. In a table of the class described, having a removable flexible surface, extending across the top of said table, and removably secured at one end to a plate fastened to the frame of said table, and means for winding and retaining the other end of said surface by a drum, secured to the opposite end of said table, for the purpose set forth and substantially as set forth.

2. In a table of the class described, a flexible surface, removably secured at one end to studs fastened to the end frame of said table, and removably secured by the other end to studs fastened upon a revolving drum or reel, mounted upon a revolvin shaft, journaled in bearing brackets secured to the frame of said table, said removable surface being held in a stretched position upon the surface of said table by being partly wound upon said drum, and retained from unwinding by a ratchet wheel engaged by a pawl, for the purpose set forth and substantially as described.

CHARLES D. SHERMAN. GEORGE H. LINK. WVitnesses:

E. J. MAOCLELLAND, H. A. YOAKAM. 

